INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers showed the poise of
a first-place team and George Karl and his Milwaukee Bucks
proved they are not yet ready to dethrone them.

Reggie Miller led six players in double figures with 22 points
as the Pacers snapped Milwaukee's six-game winning streak and
remained atop the Central Division with a 109-104 victory.

Karl, who dressed only nine players following Thursday's trades,
was ejected by referee Derek Richardson with 33 seconds left in
the third quarter.

Already shorthanded, the Bucks seemed to wilt without their
coach. Antonio Davis scored eight points during a 12-5 run to
close the third quarter as the Pacers opened an 83-74 bulge.

Dale Davis scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed 11
rebounds for Indiana, which has won 10 of its last 12 games,
including an 82-80 victory over the Bucks on February 20. The
Pacers increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over Milwaukee and
have won the last six meetings between the teams.

Glenn Robinson scored 30 points and Ray Allen added 18 for the
Bucks, who had all five starters score in double figures. But
Indiana had a 48-21 advantage in points off the bench.

The Bucks were involved in Thursday's trade deadline scramble,
sending point guard Terrell Brandon to Minnesota as part of a
three-team, eight-player deal that brought guard Sam Cassell and
forward Chris Gatling to Milwaukee. The Bucks also sent
forwards Tyrone Hill and Jerald Honeycutt to the Philadelphia
76ers for forward Tim Thomas and center Scott Williams.

Thomas was the only one of the newly acquired players available
tonight, scoring two points in six minutes. Cassell and Brandon
are expected to join the team for practice on Saturday and may
play in Sunday's game at Washington.

Antonio Davis collected 15 points and Rik Smits, Jalen Rose and
Travis Best each added 10 for the Pacers, who shot a season-high
60 percent (42-of-70) from the field en route to their highest
point total of the year.

Armen Gilliam scored 13 points and Vinny Del Negro, who started
at point guard for the Bucks, added 12 and eight assists.

Karl began shouting at Richardson after he called a touch foul
on Gilliam. Del Negro and assistant coach Terry Stotts had to
restrain Karl as he went after Richardson along the left
sideline, drawing a pair of technicals during the tirade.

Miller drained both technical free throws to extend Indiana's
lead to 81-74 and made a layup with 17 seconds left to close the
third quarter.

Rose sank a 20-footer to give Indiana its biggest lead of the
game, 95-81, with 7:20 to play. But Robinson responded with
nine points during a 14-3 run as the Bucks closed to 98-95 with
2:20 to go.

Antonio Davis hit a pair of free throws and Chris Mullin nailed
a 3-pointer to squash the Bucks' run and give the Pacers a
103-95 cushion with 45 ticks remaining.

Ervin Johnson grabbed 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which held a
37-35 edge on the boards and shot 49 percent (41-of-84).